jacketwatch

Our first cruise was 2002 on the Splendour of the Seas and we had an OV but the next we had a balcony and it has been that way ever since. For us its a must. Its not just the extra room, its having that option to sit and look at the sea, shore or whatever we want to do. I still recall checking out tracy Arm in Alaska from the comfort of our balcony or entering Stockholm and its many waterways. It was amazing.

We have no cruises planned for this yr. However in early 2016 we plan to be on the Sapphire Princess out of Singapore for an 11 day cruise to Brunei, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

We sailed aboard Sapphire Princess to Alaska in 2005 too – fantastic cruise! Small world, huh? We went in late August. The day the cruise ended was right around the day Katrina hit N.O.

Actually we were on her sister ship the Sapphire and that too was built in Japan. We cruised her in 2005 to Alaska and she handled like a dream. A will post a TR probably by tomorrow.

We cruised her when she was the Tahitian Princess. I am surprised Princess is selling her. I wonder if they will also sell their other ship of this class, the Pacific Princess.

Sorry I have not posted in quite a while. I just sort of got busy and fell off but enough of the past. I too hope the activity picks up. We were on the Diamond Princess last Sept. out of Japan and had a great time and I will post a TR soon. In the latest issue of CN Traveler mag guess which cruise line per a readers poll rated # 2 in the large ship category's? Disney was #1 again and right behind was NCL. I do recall some years ago that their ratings were rock bottom so kudos to them for what has to be a planned and well thought out strategy to improve. Now I definitely want to try them.

I too smoked when I was about that age, for about 1-2 yrs. and it was about 1ppd and quitting was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It is truly an addiction.

So I got a call from my TA today and she said we have been offered a free upgrade to a mini-suite. So I asked which cruise as we ahve on eif two weeks and in Feb. of 2016 so of course she meant the one for Sept. 9th. Guess I wasn't thinking. So of course we took it. Its not quite mid as we prefer but its not so far forward eaither. Its D403 on the Diamond so all in all its a very pleasant surprise and a first for us.

The buffet thing sounds like a prison system. No choices??? Terrible. I am glad the rest of the cruise was pleasant. The Breakaway has a nice cruise to Bermuda and we would like to try that ship someday .

I think this list could go on and on as I see others lists. :D. I suggest a full transit PC crossing to get the best idea of this marvel.

So some things I have done; Drank kava that legendary South Pacific ceremonial stimulant. Tried Kopi Luwak, that civet coffee. $20.00 per cup in Bangkok. Ate some durian, that sweet but ultra skinky fruit in SE Asia. Saw the Taj Mahal. Saw the western wall in Jerusalem and the birth place of Christ, below the altar in the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem and so many wonders in Israel including floating in the Dead Sea. Saw the Sistene chapel. I still want to step foot on Africa and South America. Want to see the Eiffel Tower. Love to go to Berlin for the history. Want to see the northern lights someday. Want to see the Sydney opera house. Want to see Petra in Jordan. St. Peter's in Rome. Angor wat in Cambodia. The USS Missouri in Pearl Harbor. The Enola Gay, the B29 that dropped the first A-bomb I am sure there are more but that's enough for now. What's yours?

In 2012 we from deck 6 deck 9 for $500.00 less by keeping an eye on prices. This was for an 11 night cruise on the Equinox out of Rome.

I found a free app called iVoice which translates to english from many languages. You pick the language you need and speak. The voice recognition so far has been nearly flawless and they have a good number of standard phrases built in such as "where do I catch the bus," where is a restaurant and so on.

we usually do too, especially the cabin attendants and waiters.

I am semi-retired now and have given up the ICU grind to PT work for a home health agency. I am at my wits end trying to convince a patient with terrible lung disease not to quit but to at least not smoke while his oxygen is on! Yes, in some cases it's that addictive.

Got it! Now it's funny. :D.

2 ppd. That's around at least $15.00 per day, around $100.00 per week and over 5k per yr. If he can quit how many more cruises can they take?

Nicotine is every addictive. I smoked for one or two yrs. and quit in 1974 and it was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. If anyone deserts a cruise line b/c of this policy there will be non-smokers who will take their place. I don't think the cruise lines would do this unless they had a good idea it would not effect the bottom line.

Huh? You mean you can pay to smoke on the balcony or is this the amt. of the fine??

That's the 11th. Commandment. LOL!

We have never taken a river cruise but according to a poll in T+L in their latest issue the top five are; 1. Tauck, 96.93. 2. Viking, 94.14. 3. Unworldl Boutique, 93.80. 4. Grand Circle, 92.19. 5. Amawaterways, 88.48. BTW I have read of numerous complaints about Grand Circle when problems occur. It seems that they are not responsive and leave you in the lurch.

We only once dropped the grats and self paid when we found out the M'atrie'd gets a cut and he was most unhelpful

Glad you had a great time. We too think an Alaskan cruise is worth a second look!

Thanks for the review. I can see why this ship,would be a step down from a Voyager class ship. We also cruised on the AOS and were enthralled by the Promenade. Sorry to hear of the wine problem and the fair eval. for the food but the ports are amazing. Our last cruise was on the Carnival Legend and we liked the ports but not the ship. Just goes to show you have to try to pick ship and itinerary.

Wow that was too close. We were scheduled to port in Ashdod in 2011 from the Connie but attacks from Gaza prevented that so we went to Haifa instead which we were supposed to go after Ashdod so we ended up spending 4 days in Israel as planned but all were from Haifa. I am so glad we could see Israel as it was one of the best experiences we've ever had from a historical point of view.